No more 5 games Corki vs Azir.
In a post that quickly followed HLE’s victory at First Stand 2025, Riot Games has confirmed that Fearless Draft will be the standard tournament format for all regions for the rest of 2025.
This comes after an excellent first International League of Legends tournament that trialled the format throughout.
What is Fearless Draft?
Fearless Draft is the future of the pick/ban system in competitive League of Legends. In this format, champions picked in previous games of a best-of-series become unavailable for both teams to pick in subsequent games. This forces deeper champion pools, more interesting matchups and surprise counter picks and team comps that are exciting for the viewer and keeps the players fresh on stage.
A word from Riot Games:
“Starting in Split 2, Fearless Draft will be implemented across regional leagues and will continue through the rest of the competitive season, including global events. MSI and Worlds will maintain their original formats, with Worlds incorporating Fearless Draft into all best-of-3 and best-of-5 matches while keeping the Swiss Stage as a best-of-1 format.
As we move forward with Fearless Draft, we’re eager to see how teams continue to adapt, innovate, and push the boundaries of competitive play. With increased champion diversity, unpredictable matchups, and evolving strategies, the viewing experience will only continue to grow. While we’re confident in the direction we’re taking, we’ll continue working closely with pro teams and gathering data to guide these improvements—stay tuned for an action-packed season ahead!”